All that portion of the territory embraced within the following boundaries, to wit: on the north and east by the limits of the territory of New Mexico; on the south by the northern limits of the county of San Miguel; and on the west by the tops of the ridge of mountains which divide the valley of Taos from Mora and Rayado, shall form and constitute a new county, to be known [as] and called the county of Mora.

History: Laws 1859-1860, p. 76, § 9; C.L. 1865, ch. 42, § 18; C.L. 1884, § 258; C.L. 1897, § 524; Code 1915, § 1090; C.S. 1929, § 33-1601; 1941 Comp., § 15-1601; 1953 Comp., § 15-18-1.

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.

Compiler's notes. — Mora county was originally created out of the eastern portion of Taos county and comprised the northeastern part of the state. Colfax, Harding and Union counties were later created from this territory.

The present boundaries of Mora county may be described as follows: commencing at a point on the range line between ranges 11 and 12 east where it intersects the top of the mountain of Nambe; thence easterly and northerly [description from 4-21-1 NMSA 1978] along the summit of the mountains to the southern boundary of Taos county; thence continuing along the summit [description from 4-18-1 and 4-18-2 NMSA 1978], which divides the valley of Taos from the valley of Mora, to its intersection with the township line between townships 23 and 24 north; thence east [description from 4-4-3 NMSA 1978] on said township line to the northeast corner of township 23 north of range 19 east; thence south on range line between ranges 19 and 20 east to the center of township 23 north; thence east [description from 4-4-2 NMSA 1978] through the center of township 23 north to the point where it intersects the center of the main channel of Red [Canadian] river; thence southerly [description from 4-11-1 NMSA 1978] meandering the center of the main channel of Red river to a point where it intersects the north boundary of San Miguel county; thence due west [description from 4-18-3 NMSA 1978] to the Pinos Altos (on the center line of township 18 north); thence on a direct line west or westerly to the old government bridge or crossing over the El Sapellocito [Sapello]; thence following up the Sapello river to its junction with the Arroyo de la Jara; thence following up the current of the Arroyo de la Jara to its fall and source; thence northwesterly to a point 500 yards north of the house of Leandro Sanchez at Pena Blanca [Penasco Blanco]; thence due west to the range line between ranges 11 and 12 east on the east boundary of Santa Fe county; thence north [description from 4-26-1 NMSA 1978] on said range to the point of beginning. [The description of the westerly boundary of the county does not follow exactly the description in 4-18-2 NMSA 1978 but is apparently the accepted boundary with Taos county.]

Cross references. — For boundaries of San Miguel county, see 4-25-1 NMSA 1978.

For original boundaries of Taos county, see 4-29-1 NMSA 1978.